Stool.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. NILL, OF WARREN, OHIO, ASSIGNOB 0F ONE-SIXTH TO PATRICK J. MURPHY AND ONE-SIXTH TO WILLIAM S. GERMAN, OF MGKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

STOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 26, 1911.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 629,621.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, JOHN B. NILL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at \Varren, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stools, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in stools, and more particularly to that class known as adjustable stools.

The present invention has for its object the provision of novel means whereby a stool may be readily adjusted to any desired height; furthermore, to provide novel means for securely locking the same in either an elevated or lowered position.

The invention further aims to provide a stool that will be extremely simple in its construction, durable, strong and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture; furthermore, one that will be extremely light in weight and one that may be easily moved from place to place.

I-Ieretofore adjustable stools have been usually constructed upon the center post principle, which not only necessitates an extremely heavy base, but provides a structure that cannot be easily moved from one place to the other, and it is with these objects in view to overcome these difficulties that I have designed the present structure that will effectually overcome these difiiculties.

The stool relating to the present invention is particularly used in factories, oflices, stores and shops, but may be advantageously used for various purposes, and a still further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of supports or legs operating upon the telescopic principle that may be simultaneously adjusted to any desired height or level.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy improved stool showing the same in an elevated position, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional vlew showing the opposite set of legs or supports, Fig. 3 is an underneath plan view of the same, and Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail view of the levers and parts comprising the locking mechanism.

Referring to the drawing in detail 1 denotes a series of hollow supports or legs, as shown four in number and each of which is provided at its lower extremity with an anti-friction ball 2 mounted in a socket 3 and by such an arrangement the supports or legs can be conveniently shifted from point to point when desired.

Each of the legs 1 intermediate its ends is provided with a socket member 6 and engaging in the said members 6 are the ends of a series of braces 5, as shown four in number, extending at right angles with respect to each other and which when connected with the legs 1 provide substantially a rectangular frame which retains the legs in position.

Secured to each of the legs 1 in proximity to its upper end is a collar or sleeve 7 and pivotally connected to each of the collars 7 as at 8 is a yoke consisting of a pair of curved arms 9 and a relatively wide flat bottom 10. The arms 9 are integral with the end of the bottom 10 approximately centrally thereof whereby the bottom 10 will project from the lower end of the arm 9.

, The yokes are positioned inwardly with respect to the legs and are arranged in pairs, the yoke of one pair opposing the other yoke of the pair.

Formed integral with and depending from the bottom 10 of each of the yokes is a pair of apertured lugs 12. Interposed between each pair of yokes is a pair of lever arms 15 and 16. Each pair of lever arms has its ends pivotally connected as at 14 to the apertured lugs of the yokes of a pair as clearly shown in Fig. 3. .The lever arms are pivotally connected together as at 17 to form a toggle device. The arm 15 at its upper edge is provided with an inwardly extending lug 18 adapted to extend over the top edge of the arm 16, thereby limiting the downward movement of the arms when the toggle is moved from its broken to its straight or unbroken position, the contact of lug '18 and arm 16 taking place when the arms are in approximately their alined or 11 formed in the legs 1. The upper ends of the supports 19 terminate in sockets 21 pro vided with flanges 22 through which are f Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, .D. 0.

adapted to extend screws or other suitable means for securely fasteningthe seat 23 to the supports 19. The supports 19 are maintained in adjusted position vby the engagement of the bottoms 10 of the yokes in those notches of the supports 19 which register with the openings 11 in the legs 1, the bot- .tom 10 extending through said openings 11 and engaging in the notches 20.

. The operation of myimproved stool is as follows: hen it is desired to elevate the seat from a lower to a more elevated position, the arms 15 and 16 are raised as shown in the dotted position illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, thus releasing the bottoms 10 of the yokes 9 from locked position, and permitting the telescopic supports 19 to be ',raised to the desired height or level, then by pressing the arms or levers downwardly into. "a horizontal position, the bottoms 10 will be easily forced through the openings 11 and engage in the notches and securely lock the 'movable supports, thus providing a rigid and safe construction.

It will be seen that any suitable seat or top may be provided for this'style of stool and that the stool will successfully operate by providing three legs instead of four, providing a triangular. construction instead of a rectangular construction 4 as herein illustrated.

- It will also be particularly noted that various other changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of this invent-ion.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is V ,1. In an adjustable stool, a supporting member and a seat member, said members having a corresponding number of legs, the legs of the seat member being adapted to telescope within legs of the supporting member, thelegs of the supporting member each having a single notch and the legs of the seat member 7 each having notches corresponding in number to the number of possible relative adjustments of the members, the notches of each of the seat member legs being positioned to intersect the notch of the leg within which its seat member leg is moved during relative movements of the legs, and a locking member positioned between and having its opposite ends pivotally carried by adjacent legs, said ends each having a device adapted to enter the alined notches of telescoping legs to retain the seat member legs against movement in either direction, said devices opposing each other and being connected together to operate in unison in the positioning and withdrawing movements of the pairs of devices into and out of operative position, said device connection being in the form of a toggle, the breaking of which withdraws the pairs of devices from operative position, said toggle and the devices substantially forming a brace for the adjacent legs when the toggle is unbroken.

2. In an adjustable stool, a supporting member and a seat member, said members having a corresponding number of legs, the legs ofithe seat member being adapted to telescope within legs of the supporting member, the legs of the supporting member each having a single notch and the legs of the seat member each having notches corresponding in number to the number of possible relative adjustments of the members, the notches of each of the seat member legs being positioned to intersect the notch of the leg within which its seat member leg is moved during relative movements of the legs, and a locking member positioned be tween and having its opposite ends pivotally carried by adjacent legs, said ends each having a device adapted to enter the alined notches of telescoping legs to retain the seat member legs against movement in either direction, said devices opposing each other and being connected together to operate in unison in the positioning and withdrawing movements of the pairs of devices into and out of operative position, said device connection comprising a toggle breakable solely in an upward direction, the toggle members in normal or unbroken position preventing movement of the devices to release the seat legs, said toggle and the devices substantially forming a brace for the adjacent legs when the toggle is unbroken.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. NILL.

Witnesses CHRISTINA T. I-Ioon, MAX H. SRoLovrrz. 

